Saha, Fletcher, Adam Johnson in, supposedly Rico out and Strinic in, possibly another player too - rumours of Dawson and Clint Dempsey doing the rounds. I am a Sunderland supporter but facts are clear - awesome manager, tight defence, combative midfield, pace, trickery and precision in the attacking areas and a finisher up front. Sess, Johnson, McClean and Fletcher will pull defenders all over the place. Look like very good dark horses to finish top 6 to me. FWIW, I also rate Newcastle's first XI, though you have little significant strength in depth. Should all the key players stay fit, I can see both NE sides genuinely challenging for European places. Reckon they'll both finish above Liverpool for a start.
Dark horses for me are Sunderland, maybe overspent on Fletcher, but i like the look of the squad. I think arsenal will flop, Wenger abandons his youth policy, as for a third consecutive exodus of the best 2 players, and brings in some big names who i think will not acheive, can see them finishing 6-8th.
Well already 1/3 of the way through the season and looks like I'm closest with my prediction and you even signed a few more players after I made my prediction. Fairplay on your prediction for us I couldn't and wouldn't have denied it at the start of the season and its bit us in the arse now. It echoed much of what I was saying on other threads in the summer, although I doubt anyone could have predicted our injury woes would have been as bad as they are currently
